From what I know you don`t need to change your workout routine at all in the first trimester. You don`t have much of a belly yet so your body can still do the same things.

Once your belly gets bigger it will get heavier and then it will at some point be uncomfortable to be on your back and that`s why they say later on in pregnancy you shouldn`t sleep on your back-not just because it`s uncomfortable but it can cut off some blood supply to your baby. But again in first trimester you don`t need to worry about that.

Later it would also be hard to do crunches because you can`t move that much because you have a belly.

I`m 5 months pregnant right now and I still do some ab exercises that are comfortable for me. Just be in tune with your body and if it doesn`t feel right don`t do it.

From what I know you don`t need to change your workout routine at all in the first trimester. You don`t have much of a belly yet so your body can still do the same things.

Once your belly gets bigger it will get heavier and then it will at some point be uncomfortable to be on your back and that`s why they say later on in pregnancy you shouldn`t sleep on your back-not just because it`s uncomfortable but it can cut off some blood supply to your baby. But again in first trimester you don`t need to worry about that.

Later it would also be hard to do crunches because you can`t move that much because you have a belly.

I`m 5 months pregnant right now and I still do some ab exercises that are comfortable for me. Just be in tune with your body and if it doesn`t feel right don`t do it.

Crunches are not the best for abs during pregnancy, especially after 13 weeks or so. And crunches, which engage the external abs (Rectus and Obliques) as prime movers aren't really "core" exercises.Core exercises engage the deep abdominals, the Transverse Abdominis, or TvA, who's primary purpose is stabilization, both of the pelvis and lower spine, any most importantly for pregnancy, the shape of your abdomen. If when doing crunches now, you can see your abdomen bulging outward during exertion, then this means that your TvA does not have enough functional strength, compared to your external abs, and you should stop doing them.Doing any exercises that make the abdomen protrude (moves like leg lifts can cause this too) during pregnancy greatly increases the strain on your mid line tissue, and can cause a diastaisis (abdominal separation) to occur.If you can maintain a relatively flat abdominal profile when doing a move like a crunch, then you can keep these in your workouts until the second trimester, when it is recommended to stop exercising on the back.Start doing abdominal compressions, to strengthen your TvA, as a regular part of your pregnancy workouts.BeFit-Mom

Crunches are not the best for abs during pregnancy, especially after 13 weeks or so. And crunches, which engage the external abs (Rectus and Obliques) as prime movers aren't really "core" exercises.Core exercises engage the deep abdominals, the Transverse Abdominis, or TvA, who's primary purpose is stabilization, both of the pelvis and lower spine, any most importantly for pregnancy, the shape of your abdomen. If when doing crunches now, you can see your abdomen bulging outward during exertion, then this means that your TvA does not have enough functional strength, compared to your external abs, and you should stop doing them.Doing any exercises that make the abdomen protrude (moves like leg lifts can cause this too) during pregnancy greatly increases the strain on your mid line tissue, and can cause a diastaisis (abdominal separation) to occur.If you can maintain a relatively flat abdominal profile when doing a move like a crunch, then you can keep these in your workouts until the second trimester, when it is recommended to stop exercising on the back.Start doing abdominal compressions, to strengthen your TvA, as a regular part of your pregnancy workouts.BeFit-Mom

The advisement against exercise and lying on the back during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy is NOT due to blood supply being cut off from baby!!! This is a total myth.In about 9% of pregnancies, women can experience Supine Hypotensive Disorder, a condition where the weight of the uterus can supress the Vena Cava, the largest vein in our bodies, that returns oxygen depleted blood to the heart. When this occurs, a women will feel suddenly dizzy.Many good studies have shown that arterial blood flow to the uterus is NOT significantly reduced when exercising or lying on the back. BeFit-Mom

The advisement against exercise and lying on the back during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy is NOT due to blood supply being cut off from baby!!! This is a total myth.In about 9% of pregnancies, women can experience Supine Hypotensive Disorder, a condition where the weight of the uterus can supress the Vena Cava, the largest vein in our bodies, that returns oxygen depleted blood to the heart. When this occurs, a women will feel suddenly dizzy.Many good studies have shown that arterial blood flow to the uterus is NOT significantly reduced when exercising or lying on the back. BeFit-Mom

I have ab separation from previous 3 pregnancies. Intensive physiotherapy post pregnancy has helped alot. I read that you advise compression work for Tva strength. What is an example of this move? I'm 19 weeks along with no 4. Thanks!

I have ab separation from previous 3 pregnancies. Intensive physiotherapy post pregnancy has helped alot. I read that you advise compression work for Tva strength. What is an example of this move? I'm 19 weeks along with no 4. Thanks!

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